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California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: November 29, 2007
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ/SOCA 359 Law and Society

You will be held accountable for the readings and discussion questions listed here. There will be no "testing." That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week's reading.

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Week 14 Week of December 2, 2007

Topic: Cyberspace and the Future of Law

Dates


• November 30-December 7 - Second Meetings
• December 7 - The Final Absolute Deadline (everything except the Visual Projects)
• December 10th, beginning of class - Visual Projects due including bibliography and self-assessment questions.

Preparatory Readings

• Bonsignore . Before the Law. Chapters 21, 22, 23 and 24.
  
• Bellow and Minow. Law Stories. Afterword.
• Documentary, "---" to be shown in class.
• Curran and Takata. Sociology of Law Handbook. Chapter 1 & 2 (see links below)
  -- Introduction
  -- Chapter 1, part 1
  -- Chapter 1, part 2
  -- Chapter 2
  
  

Lecture related links:



• Index on Structural Violence
• Metaphor and Theory links to "The Blind Men and the Elephant." Eric K. mentioned this metaphor when we were discussing several concepts relating to our class.
• "Who's Habermas? Why Habermas?"
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
  
  
• Those Infamous Grades and Letters of Recommendation
• "The Case Against Gold Stars" by Alfie Kohn.

Concepts to be covered:



• cyberspace
• transborder data flow
• virtual reality
• ODR (online dispute resolution)
• intellectual property



Discussion Questions:

Note: Incorporate this week's readings and the documentary, "---" into your answers to the discussion questions below.

1. After completing Law Stories , what do these stories tell you about the tension between facts and norms? Why. What do these stories tell you about the relationship between "law and society"? Why.
2. David Bolter states: "Each technology gives us a different space," (Bonsignore, p. 553). How would the four different sociological perspectives -- the structural functionalist, Marxist, interactionist, and Habermasian theorist -- interpret this statement? Which theoretical perspective to you agree with the most? Why.
3. "Cyberspace may be a vibrant place, a creative place, a fun place, even a lucrative place. It is not, however, a harmonious place," (Bonsignore, p. 555). What does this statement mean? Given new and expanding technologies, what is the future direction of law?



Self-Assessment Questions for each Visual Project:




1. List the names of the individuals in your group. What did you do exactly for this visual project? (If in a group, explain the division of labor and your individual contribution to this visual project).
2. Briefly explain how your visual project relates to "law and society" (i.e., the readings, the documentaries, the four sociological perspectives, Habermas' tension between facts and norms). What did you learn?
3. Assess how the 6Cs apply to your visual project, with special attention on competence and creativity. What is your visual project self-assessment (provide a letter grade) ___ ? Why.



Suggested Creative Measures/Visual Projects:




Note: Start thinking about ideas for your creative measures. Must relate to "law and society" Must be approved before starting your creative measure. Cannot be something that you are doing or have done for another course. Research cannot be 100% online (i.e., google, askjeeves). Must conduct library research using scholarly works, (not the popular press -- Time Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated). A bibliography must be attached to your visual presentation. No term papers! Allow time to dialogue and present your creative measure in class. Email me your ideas ASAP.



• Make an explosion box , and decorate it to reflect an issue relating to cyberspace and the future of law.
• Research recent court decisions relating to cyberspace and the law.
• Come up with your own "law story".



Recommended Readings:

--- Jurgen Habermas. Between Facts and Norms.
--- Martha Minow. Making All the Difference: Exclusion, Inclusion and American Law. Check out this link Martha Minow on the Dear Habermas site.

Course Syllabus for CRMJ/SOCA 359 "Law and Society"

takata@uwp.edu